Hello! I am a beginner at this so please excuse the stupid question.

Try as I might, I cannot get the result I want... I'm trying to model a scifi helmet, and I think the best option for creating the visor will be the network command.

HOWEVER. I can only seem to create one half, then mirror it, and it creates a weird cleft instead.

Any help greatly appreciated. I'm switching from poly modelling to nurbs and I can't quite get my head around it yet.

Many thanks,
Liam

Hi Liam, can you please post your .3dm model file with the curves you are trying to network?

From the screenshot my best guess is that you might not have a compatible curve grid setup. Part of how Network surface works is it has to be able to unwrap the curves into a 2D grid with one set of curves being the horizontal grid lines and the other set being vertical grid lines. Kind of like how lines of latitude and longitude on a globe correspond to horizontal and vertical lines on a 2D map of the globe.

So similar to a globe if you have a "north pole" type location, you shouldn't have a curve that crosses over the pole over to the other side of it, you need to cut curves into pieces so they have an end point at the north pole not going past the pole.

Also there are some tips here for people coming from a poly modeling background, they may be helpful:
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=4865.2

- Michael

Another thing to be aware of is that it can be difficult with domed structures using Network to not have evidence of the curve layout influencing the surface shape in a visible way especially with "poles".

One thing that can help is to include a circle curve as one cross section approaching towards the pole like this example:
http://moi3d.com/forum/index.php?webtag=MOI&msg=3550.6

Some other things that can be good for a smooth dome is to do the dome as a sub-d model and use the new Sub-d converter in MoI v4 to bring it over.

Another way to get a very smooth dome like shape is to start with a surface of revolution like a sphere or a custom one that you make with revolve and then turn on surface control points and deform those points rather than doing a curve driven construction for that particular type of shape.

- Michael

Michael!!! Smooth moves my dude - that tip about putting the pole at the top did the trick! I also added a small circle there to smooth out any further wrinkled.

Thank you for your help! :)

...This was the result in the end. Many thanks for you help!

Hi Super9 wow that turned out great!

- Michael